Tag: ARCs

…I’d love to tell you that I’ve read nine million books this week so I’ve acquired ten million, but that’s not the case. I got caught up in this Sims 4 decades legacy challenge which is a blog post in itself (but maybe not this blog) so reading has gone slowly. Let’s see what’s been picked up, however.

Netgalley

The Seduction of of Lady Phoebe by Ella Quinn

I’m reading this right now. I’m a fan of Quinn’s Worthington series (not to be confused with Celeste Bradley’s Wicked Worthington series, which I do all the time) and this looks to be a reissue. I haven’t read it though so fun times. This seems to be one of those rarities where the male MC is in love with the heroine right from the start, except…he makes a cake of himself and has to fix his approach…eight years later.

Pub date: October 29, 2019

The Highlander’s Christmas Bride by Vanessa Kell

I…usually am not a fan of seasonal tales (although where are my Halloween ones??? I want autumn walks through the leaves), but Vanessa Kelly is one of those authors I’ll make exceptions for. Here we have a failed nun (probably a chapter title in my memoir, to be honest) and the Highlander sent to escort her home. This is bound to go well.

Pub date: October 29. 2019

Edelweiss

The Glass Magician by Caroline Stevermer

Tor. Do you have spies in my house? I’m guessing yes. Consistently they put out books that speak to my soul (Hi Gideon the Ninth). Also let’s talk about that cover. There’s so much too unpack: skull, swan, eyes…Our story takes place in Gilded Age New York and wow, this looks amazing. I think I’m gonna have to switch up my TBR a bit and move this one up the list. I have high hopes for it.

Pub date: April 7, 2020

The Cerulean Queen by Sarah Kozloff

…Tor. This is the conclusion to A Queen in Hiding which is strange because the books between the first and the last aren’t available as ARCs yet. However, I’m absolutely intrigued by the concept Kozloff and Tor are about. Each book in the series is being published one month after another, which is unheard of. It’s kind of a Netflix binge. I enjoyed the first in the series and I’m definitely interested to see where we go. *

Pub date: April 21, 2020

Forever and a Duke by Olivia Drake

Did I pick this up because the dude MC has my maiden name? No. Was I pretty thrilled that an author I enjoy used my maiden name? Yes. Here we have a duke who needs a bride and an American who does not, under any circumstance, need a duke. This lady has shit to do, and he ain’t one of them. I’m always here for when the menfolk have to win over the ladies and aren’t all “love is for losers.”

Pub date: December 21, 2019

Docile by K.M Szpara

Tor. We get it. You’re the cool kid at the table. Fine. I’ll sit with you. Stop begging. I’ve heard sooo many things about this book. All of them good. As soon as I saw it was up for download, I jumped on it with the quickness. See that Charlie Jane blurb? Also Sarah Gailey is into it. The premise sounds terrifying. Having to sell yourself to pay off parental debt? I’m gonna need a lot of fun, squishy books after this. I can feel it.

Pub date: March 3, 2020

That’s it for me this week. Did any of these make your TBR? Have your own acquired ARCs you want to share with the class? Let me know in the comments.

I’ve been battling a cold, but luckily that gives me even more time to read and pick up ARCs. In this week’s news Kensington must have just gotten tired of pushing that approval button on Netgalley so much because they granted me the coveted “Auto approval” which means any books they have up on the site, I just get to download it without asking permission. Very exciting. Speaking of Netgalley, we’ll start with them.

Netgalley

The Merry Viscount by Sally MacKenzie

Last year I got a good chunk of my non romance reading bookseller coworkers to read What Ales the Earl by MacKenzie and it was a hit so when I saw the next in the series was available…the clicking was so fast. I read it in one sitting, it’s on the shorter side, but wow. So spicy. It’s a little of an insta-love trope, but it works. I had a good time.

Pub date: September 24, 2019

Blitzed by Alexa Martin

This is the third in Martin’s Playbook series. While I generally don’t read any sports romances, this series has charmed the hell out of me. Brynn, our main character, has been in the last two books as a side character and I’m really glad to see more of her in this one. Martin writes from a bit of experience in the field (hahahaha. nope I’m not sorry) as she is the wife of a former NFL player. This one is bound to be a good time.

Pub date: December 3, 2019

A Jewel Bright Sea by Claire O’Dell

I’ve been reading O’Dell’s Janet Watson series which is a twist on the Holmes canon by making both Sherlock and Watson black queer women and have really enjoyed it so seeing that she had something new on the horizon sparked my interest. This seems to be a heist fantasy which is definitely in my Venn diagram of read it now. Good news, it’s already out so you can pick it up as well!

Pub date: September 3, 2019

Edelweiss

The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi

Right after I finished last week’s post, this beauty came up on my Edelweiss. It’s the second book in the Gilded Wolves series which is a YA heist fantasy (remember what I said about heist fantasies) and the first was one of my favorite books of last year. I’m excited to see what the gang is up to. This read very crossover to me, great for YA readers and great for adult SFF readers who have read everything.

Pub date: February 4, 2020

The Prince of Broadway by Joanna Shupe

This is the second in Shupe’s Uptown Girls series and it takes place in Gilded Age NYC. I usually stay on the other side of the pond in this era, but I’ve read Shupe and a couple others and I must say, I might have been missing out. Also he’s the owner of a casino which in Regency would be a hell and hello, I’m listening. Bad boy meets rich girl trope has become a weakness as well, I firmly blame Sarah MacLean. She’s probably cackling right now

Pub date: December 30, 2019

That’s it for this week. What did you pick up this week? Share your literary loot in the comments.

This week’s Acquired ARCs only came from Edelweiss. Let’s see what they are.

A Pale Light in the Dark by K.B. Wagers

I liked Wager’s Indranan War series (even though I haven’t finished it, I really plan to) so I definitely wanted to see what this new series was all about. Consider me interested. It seems to have found family vibes, which I’m always here for. Bad ass leading lady also check. Possibly a big competition? That’s another one in its favor.

Pub date: March 3, 2020

Grown Up Pose by Sonya Lalli

I have mixed feeling’s about Lalli’s previous book The Matchmaker’s List,but I’m willing to give her another shot here. I don’t really have a lot to say here to be honest. It’s a story about a woman starting over after separating from her husband who she married at a young age, and her community’s impact on her life so there’s a lot Lalli can explore here. I hope the execution is as good as the premise.

Pub date: March 24, 2020

The Sinister Mystery of the Mesmerizing Girl by Theodora Goss

I had a great time with the first in this series and am working on the second now (it’s a chunkster). The idea that daughters of literature’s mad scientists would band together and have adventures? Oh man. I was there day one. I especially love that it’s told with each girl breaking into the narrative to give her side of the story or impart a snarky retort.

Pub date: October 19, 2019

The Deep by Rivers Solomon, Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, and Jonathan Snipes

Ever since I read An Unkindness of Ghosts, I’ve been aching for another story from Rivers. When I found out they had a novella inspired by The Deep by Clipping, well, let’s just say, it couldn’t get into my hands fast enough. I read this too fast and will probably read it again soon. There are so many details that you don’t expect to find in such a short story. Haunting, mesmerizing, and impactful are all words I would use to describe this story. It is nothing short of a work of art.

Pub date: November 5, 2019

The Witches Are Comingby Lindy West

Don’t lie. You squeed when you saw this. If you’re like me, you watched Shrill (hopefully you read the book as well) and were in love. Lindy’s take on feminism, pop culture, and body image is nothing short of masterful. I have been awaiting this essay collection with bated breath and am trying to hurry to write this post so I can sit in my comfy chair with a bottle of Magic Hat #9 and just devour every word of this collection.

Pub date: November 5, 2019

Will you pick up any of these? Did you acquire any books this week? Tell me in the comments.

While I was a bookseller I became a front list addict. Rereading? Only for my truest love The Night Circus. If it wasn’t brand new, I didn’t read it. To be honest, if it was already out, I probably skipped it. I lived on Edelweiss and in the book buyer’s office, scoping all the Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs). A bit has changed now that I’m on hiatus. I’ve done a few romance series rereads like Julia Quinn’s The Bridgerton series to prep for the show and as I’ve mentioned lately I’ve been going through some of those ARCs I never got to through the Bout of Books readathon. But honestly, I’m still front list at heart and luckily the blog gives me a reason to read ahead as it were. Let’s see a few titles I picked up this week.

Netgalley

This Earl of Mine by Kate Bateman

This is the first in a new series by Bateman. I haven’t read her before so I’m excited. Folks, this is a second chance romance with a marriage of convenience which is catnip for me. Heiress marries a condemned prisoner to save her fortune from a villainous cousin only to find out…hubby was actually working undercover. Now what? I don’t know, but I’m super excited to find out

Pub date: October 29, 2019

Lady Hotspur by Tessa Gratton

I really liked The Queens of Innis Lear which was a spin on Shakespeare’s King Lear so I’ve been waiting for something new from Gratton. Lady Hotspur is a retelling of The Bard’s Henry IV and takes place in the same world as her first book which fascinates me. We get to follow a fallen queen, a knight turned heir to the throne, and a weapon of warfare who is caught between them both. There seems to be a queer subplot which I am super down for.

Pub date: January 7, 2020

The Throne of the Five Winds by S.C. Emmett

I didn’t know this when I requested it, but S.C. Emmett is a pseudonym for Lilith Saintcrow. I’ve read a few of her urban fantasy series back in the day, but it was so long ago, I couldn’t’ tell you why I stopped. Goodreads tells me this is an East Asia inspired epic fantasy following two queens, two concubines, and six princes. I like a good court intrigue so I’m…interested. This is the first installment of a trilogy according to the Orbit announcement.

Pub date: October 15, 2019

Unnatural Magic by C.M. Waggoner

This debut novel was blurbed by one of my favorite authors, Kat Howard and also can we talk about how gorgeous this cover is? The main characters are a would-be mage and a troll who are investigating troll murders. This is not something I’ve seen before and I really can’t wait to jump in and see where Waggoner takes us.

Pub date: November 5, 2019

Edelweiss

Engaged to the Earl by Lisa Berne

Engaged to the Earl is the fourth in the Penhallow Dynasty series which I have been reading and enjoying. Not sure what our trope is in this one yet from the description. Whatever the official one is for dude leaves to find adventure, comes back to find dreamy girl has grown the fuck up and looking gorgeous. Also she’s engaged so she’s gonna have to pick between the guy everyone likes and the guy no one’s heard from in years. What’s a girl to do?

Pub date: February 25, 2019

Something That May Shock and Discredit You by Daniel Mallory Ortberg

I read Ortberg when he ran The Toast and his book Texts From Jane Eyre but was too scared to read The Merry Spinster although one of my horror loving friends adored it. I’m a sucker for a good essay collection and this one sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun. Pop culture is where Ortberg excels and I expect this to be a good time.

Pub date: January 28, 2019

What new books did you pick up this week? Is there anything you’re looking forward to reading this fall?

Yesterday was actually the 2nd day of Bout of Books, but my official 1st day. I decided the best way for me to tackle my stack of digital ARCs I’ve been accumulating was this readathon. I only managed to finish one book and DNF’d another. It was just not that interesting to me.

One Night for Seduction – Erica Ridley

Let me say, I’m not a fan of the trope where one Main Character (MC) makes a wager concerning the unaware other (MC). It’s obnoxious. I was thrilled when our betted on Diana finds out about Cole’s bet to get her married pretty quickly. I also love the conversation of equality the characters discussed. Diana was a great heroine. I would have loved to get more of Cole’s rags to riches backstory, but all in all, fun read.

Hopefully today will be more productive! How was your reading day yesterday? Even if you’re not participating in the readathon, tell me about it.

Noah’s perspective of growing up in South Africa during apartheid while being the son of a black woman and white man, while mixed with his trademark humor, was insightful and poignant. We in the US are often presented with what Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has termed “the danger of the single story” where we are told history from the point of view of the oppressors and it was refreshing to see history from someone directly affected by the heinousness of the apartheid laws.

Beverly Jenkins has done it again. She gave me a story that had layered characters, a wonderful plot and as an added bonus gave a history lesson that most of us didn’t learn in school regarding US history. I love that our hero fell in love first, no brooding for this guy and the heroine? She was the one who had to be convinced to leave her single state. The romance between the two equals steamy.

I have been really enjoying the shenanigans of the Cavendishes and this foray into their world was no different. I love that Lady Claire is basically Ada Lovelace. I also love that the book takes place at the exact same time as the previous two books so we can see what the other characters have experienced of the shenanigans that have ensued.

I loved The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet so much. So I was a little wary (yet excited) for this installment. I say installment rather than sequel, because it felt more like a book that takes place in the world Chambers created than an actual continuation of the first book. I thought it was a great way to go. The theme of identity was well thought out and executed. I hope there will be more stories to follow.